Statehouse Headliners: McKibben influence strong on 2019 Legislature
Never underestimate the influence of climate change author and activist Bill McKibben on the Vermont Legislature.
Statehouse Headliners: Capital gains tax could fall on woodlot owners
The embattled, $1.5 billion Vermont forest products industry is facing a new threat — a hike in the state capital gains tax.
Statehouse Headliners: Marijuana bill becoming ‘Christmas tree’ legislation
With only weeks left in the legislative session, S.54, the marijuana bill, is becoming a “Christmas tree” of additions and changes.
Statehouse Headliners: Senate weatherization bill would tax heating fuel and electricity, too
Coming up this week, the Senate weatherization bill would double the heating tax and tax electricity, too, and one House chair is urging skeptical reps to “let the people decide” about Prop 5. Also, the Human Rights Commission wants power to investigate police.
Statehouse Headliners: Marijuana bill would allow high-concentrate edibles, encourage ‘illicit’ growers to seek licenses
The latest version of the marijuana bill may encourage current illegal growers to seek licenses; put towns in ‘opt-out’ status, not ‘opt-in’; allow sale of high-concentration edibles; and permit roadside blood drawing.
Statehouse Headliners: UVM Medical Center backs abortion constitutional amendment, announces new abortion practice policy
The state’s largest hospital on Thursday sent employees a letter describing its new abortion policy and its support for a constitutional amendment enshrining the unlimited right to abortion.
Statehouse Headliners: House to consider Senate bill adding emissions test to annual car inspection
The House Transportation Committee Thursday will consider a Senate bill to expand the annual registered vehicle inspection to include inspection of emissions or on-board diagnostic systems for all vehicles up to 10 years old.
Statehouse Headliners: Vermont marijuana bill has organized crime loophole used in Colorado
Organized crime is exploiting a loophole in the Colorado medical marijuana law to establish more than 800 black market marijuana grows.
Statehouse Headliners: Legislators fear Trump executive order may prevent natural gas pipeline ban
Tuesday afternoon state lawmakers gathered in the House Energy and Technology Committee to ask if President Donald Trump’s new executive order will pre-empt H.51 and other bills intended to stop new natural gas pipelines.
State Headliners: Press covers Dean ‘flip’ on marijuana, but not Obama prosecutor’s warnings about Colorado legalization
The professional press corps hasn’t informed Vermonters about the realities of the Colorado experiment with tax and regulate marijuana. However, they were able to report that a physician and former governor is happy to lend his name to the marijuana industry.
Statehouse Headliners: U.S. Attorney: Colorado marijuana profits go to wealthy few, ethnic groups suffer
“Commercialization really changed the life and the atmosphere in the state, very quickly,” Troyer said. “We now have more stores selling marijuana than we have Starbucks and McDonalds combined.”
Statehouse Headliners: Abortion constitutional amendment public hearing set for April 17
Vermont’s proposed amendment to enshrine abortion is set for a public hearing, while “Unplanned,” the surprising hit movie about former abortion clinic director Abby Johnson, will air at Bennington Cinemas this weekend.